Conservation Council of Western Australia

The Conservation Council of Western Australia (CCWA) is the umbrella body for conservation groups and organisations in Western Australia. It has been the co-ordinator, publisher and guiding body for issues of woodchipping in the South West of Western Australia, the logging of old growth forests, as well as providing input into government processes involved with all aspects of environmental protection and conservation.

Conservation Council of Western Australia

Abbreviation	CCWA
Type	Non-governmental organization (NGO)
Purpose	Environmental protection, conservation advocacy, sustainability, climate change action
Headquarters	Perth, Western Australia
Location	Western Australia
Region served	Australia
Website	www.ccwa.org.au

History

The Conservation Council of Western Australia (CCWA) was founded in 1972 as a non-governmental organisation with the aim of advocating for environmental protection and sustainable development in the state of Western Australia. It was established as a response to the growing environmental concerns associated with the expansion of industry, agriculture, and urbanisation.

Its origins were closely related to the Perth-based - Environment Centre of W.A., and the development and success of the environmental movement also saw subsequent development of the regional environment centres in Denmark, Albany, Margaret River and Busselton.

The Council played a significant role in the conservation movement of the 1970s, particularly in relation to campaigns aimed at protecting Western Australia's unique biodiversity and natural landscapes. The CCWA has been involved in numerous successful campaigns, from advocating for the preservation of native forests to opposing destructive mining practices in sensitive areas.

In 1981 the council was involved in a class action in the United States against bauxite miners Reynolds and Alcoa. regarding mining in the jarrah forests of the Darling Range east of Perth; the complaint was lodged with the U.S. Federal District Court in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.^{a b[1]}

Structure and Governance

The Conservation Council of Western Australia operates as a membership-based organisation, consisting of affiliated groups and individual supporters. It is governed by a board of directors, which is elected annually by the membership. The governance structure ensures that CCWA represents a broad spectrum of environmental interests across the state.^[2]

The organisation's day-to-day operations are managed by a team of staff, headed by an executive director, who oversee various programs and campaigns related to environmental advocacy, policy development, and public education.

Campaigns and Advocacy

CCWA is known for its advocacy on a wide range of environmental issues, including biodiversity conservation, climate change, water management, and land use planning. Some of the Council's major campaigns include:

• Stopping Deforestation: CCWA has long advocated for the protection of Western Australia's native forests, particularly in the South West and Kimberley regions. The Council has lobbied for stronger protections against logging and other forms of land clearing.
• Climate Change Action: The CCWA has been at the forefront of pushing for greater action on climate change, calling for a transition to renewable energy sources and more stringent policies on carbon emissions.
• Marine Conservation: CCWA has been involved in the campaign for marine park protection, particularly in the Ningaloo Reef and other ecologically significant marine areas off Western Australia's coast.

Policy Positions

The Conservation Council of Western Australia holds several key policy positions on environmental issues, including:

• Strong protection for biodiversity, particularly in the face of increasing pressures from land clearing, climate change, and invasive species.
• The implementation of ambitious renewable energy targets and measures to address climate change.
• The establishment of new marine parks and the expansion of existing marine protected areas to safeguard Western Australia's coastal ecosystems.

Affiliations

CCWA is a member of several national and international networks of environmental organisations. It works closely with other advocacy groups, research institutions, and governmental agencies to further its conservation goals.

• Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF)
• Environmental Defender's Office (EDO)
• The Wilderness Society (TWS)

Criticisms

While the Conservation Council of Western Australia has been widely recognized for its efforts in environmental advocacy, it has faced criticisms from some sectors. Critics, including some business and political figures, have argued that the Council's advocacy can sometimes be too radical, opposing development projects that could potentially create jobs and stimulate economic growth in the state.

Despite these criticisms, CCWA maintains that environmental protection and sustainable development should go hand in hand and that long-term ecological health is essential for both the environment and the economy.

Affiliated groups

Notable member groups^[3] of the council have included the Campaign to Save Native Forests, South West Forests Defence Foundation, West Australian Forest Alliance, and Great Walk Networking. Smaller, more transient single-purpose protest groups have found the council a positive custodian and advocate over the thirty years of its activities. Some groups are no longer current but their impact on the process of conservation and preservation in Western Australia have been significant in raising public awareness of issues.

Community incentive

The council created the Bessie Rischbieth Conservation Award to acknowledge the contribution of a volunteer in the community conservation sector in 1994.

See also

• Conservation Council of South Australia
• Environment Victoria
• Queensland Conservation Council
• Woodchipping

Notes

a:.^ Jarrah class action legal complaint: the Conservation Council of Western Australia Inc. (Plaintiffs) - v. - Aluminium Company of America (ALCOA) and Reynolds Metals Co., (Defendants), Feb. 1981. [Perth, W.A.] : Conservation Council of W.A, 1981.

b:.^ Conservation Council, Etc. v. Aluminum Co., Etc. 518 F. Supp. 270 (W.D. Pa. 1981). Casetext, 9 July 1981. Retrieved 19 October 2022.